I have been going to Taiwan since the early 1980s and have been gratified and delighted at the emphasis a new generation of Taiwan citizens is putting on the environment and conservation. For the last several years I have been visiting the mountains and other birding hot spots with private bird guides as a way of developing a more intimate relationship with the extraordinary natural face of the island. The ornithological experience in Taiwan has been superb and I have always come away wondering why there is not more buzz in the birding community about Taiwan as a bird watching destination.

Well perhaps things are changing.

On his November 2017 Bird Watcher's Digest podcast, publisher and editor Bill Thompson III (may he rest in peace) regales listeners with his experience birding in Taiwan at the invitation of the country, including Eco-Tourism Taiwan's Victor Yu who I had the chance to meet and bird with several years ago when I was first trying to identify a guide for my visit.

Thompson was joined by several professional bird tour operators, all of whom were visiting Taiwan for the first time. For some, including Bill, it was their first visit to Asia, period. All of them left the island nation believing that Taiwan is the perfect gateway country for discovering the joys of birding in Asia, a contention that I share unequivocally. Below is a copy-and-paste link to a video version of This Birding Life Episode 74 "Birding Taiwan" from Bird Watcher's Digest:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NE3dBRuYQs

Taiwan

The Asian birds of Taiwan as seen through the eye and camera of Jared Keyes

This handsome and photogenic fellow has a much more apt and pronounceable name in Chinese: Yellow-freckled Frowner. The subtlety of this birds coloration is magnificent, and the markings around the face and head appear as if laid down with a thin tipped brush.

The Liocichla (pronounced lee-o-SICK-la), has the unusual distinction of being one of only 300 birds in the world whose repertoire includes a regular duet with its mate: the male belts out its two part whistle, and even before his song is complete, the female responds with a raspy, buzzing chatter. Like other birds in the Timaliidae family, the Steere's Liocichla is highly communicative, and, to date, nine distinct vocalizations have been identified. The purpose of each has been researched extensively by ornithologists at Taiwan University's Experimental Highland Farm in the mountains of Nantou County.

One of this species's common calIs is described in Chinese as the alliteration for "cho-co-late, cho-co-late!" and can be heard throughout most city parks. This is a common denizen around human habitation and is ubiquitous in all but the narrow eastern coastal plain of Taiwan starting about 1/5 of the way down from the northern tip of the island - disappearing around Yilan. This prescribed area is inhabited by the Light-vented's close cousin, the Styan's Bulbul, which holds strong over its domain.

Spring in Taiwan proves once again that any bird looks good adorned with flowers.